Wearing a flatcap and Aran sweater, Mike Delaney certainly looks Irish.  

And not surprisingly, when people ask him about his family roots, his answer is the same.

“I always say Irish,” Delaney said. 

No blarney in that statement. 

His grandparents, John and Ruth Delaney, migrated from Ireland to America and lived in Iowa before homesteading in Coeur d’Alene in 1930. 

The story goes that when they arrived, all they had was a wagon, horses, a few potatoes and 15 cents.  

They were not deterred. They built a cabin on Fernan Hill, raised a family and forged a living. 

“My grandparents were really hard-working people,” Delaney said. 

Their craftsmanship was true. 

“The main house is still where my grandparents built it, up on the hill,” Delaney said. 

His father, Shirley Delaney, was born in Iowa, raised in North Idaho but his heart was in Ireland. And with a name like Shirley, his dad was strong and tough.

“My dad was always proud he was Irish,” Delaney said. 

Today, the Post Falls man proudly says he is three-quarters Irish.  

“I’m not sure about the other quarter,” he said, smiling. 

Delaney’s family ties and friendly ways landed him the title of grand marshal for Saturday’s 20th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade presented by the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association in partnership with ICCU.  

He’ll lead the way for the celebration whose theme is “Luck of the Irish.” It will have about 25 entries, with dancers, musicians, a few floats and perhaps a man dressed as a Guinness can. All will travel down Sherman Avenue from Eighth Street to First Street. 

Other parade honorees include Irish Man of the Year, Nick Buley; Irish Woman of the Year, Schylor Reynolds; and Irish Colleen of the Year, Mary Thrasher. 

The weather is expected to be typical of Ireland, cold and cloudy, but the predicted rain might pass through before the parade begins at 3 p.m.

Delaney, whose wife, Coleen, was the Irish Colleen of the Year in 2022, will be joined by his 11-month-old Irish Wolfhound, Conri, who already stands about 3 feet tall at the shoulders and weighs well over 100 pounds.  Fully grown, he'll top 200 pounds. Standing on his hind legs, Conri is taller than his master.

“It's amazing how much they grow from this point on,” Delaney said. 

The Delaneys have owned five Irish Wolfhounds, starting with Warlord, followed by King, Eoin, Jaden and now, Conri. 

"The only bad thing about them is they only live about 10 years," Delaney said.

He said Irish Wolfhounds are one of the oldest dog breeds, have long been associated with the Irish culture so much that there are Irish Wolfhound statues outside Ashford Castle in Cong, County Mayo, and they are part of the country's folklore.

They were traced to 273 B.C. and were used in war against the Romans. 

Delaney said the Irish clans were never conquered by the Romans, due in part to the fierce Irish Wolfhounds, with up to 200 joining the fight. 

“The Romans were actually afraid of them,” Delaney said. 

Delaney has visited Ireland just once, when he was in Dublin for management training with his employer, CRH, which manufactures and supplies construction industry products. 

His stay was brief but memorable. 

“Rained every day I was there, but it was beautiful country, friendly people,” he said. “A big thing. Everybody drank Guinness.” 

Ironically, Delaney is not a fan of the famous dark beer, which was founded in 1759 in Dublin, where it still has its operations at St. James's Gate Brewery and offers tours. 

“That kind of leaves you on the outs in Ireland,” he said, laughing. 

Delaney still has friends and relatives in Ireland, studies the land and its people, and hopes to return. 

“I always felt pride in the Irish,” he said.